title: Refining the 'cucumber' technique for laryngeal biopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To refine the case selection process for the 'cucumber' mounting system for laryngeal biopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective audit of cucumber technique specimens taken between January 2002 and December 2008. We analysed the clinical indications for biopsy and the pathological diagnosis, for each specimen, in order to inform our case selection process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cucumber technique was used for 125 laryngeal specimens. 60 specimens were taken for diagnostic sampling, 46 were taken during endoscopic laser resection, and 19 for overtly benign pathology. The cucumber technique was most useful for the interpretation of margins in endoscopic laser resection specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cucumber technique is most useful for endoscopic resection cases in which tumour, dysplasia or suspicious lesions have been excised. Detailed information on resection margins is invaluable during multidisciplinary team discussions on patient management. Detailed photography of mounted specimens enables both laryngologist and pathologist to orientate and interpret specimens accurately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK. stuart@glasgow.org
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McPhaden
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: MacKenzie
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D018553:Cucumis sativus; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data